Door-operating mechanism.



H. ROWNTREE. DOOR OPERATING MECHANSM.

APPLICATION man JULY 1. 1910.

Patented Feb. 22,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET) H. ROWNTRIE.v nooR OPERATING MECHANISM,

PPLCATION FILED JULY1| 1910- 1,172,561, v Patented Feb. 22,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. UNITED "STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD ROWNTREE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAI; PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

DOOReOlERATING ,MECHANISIVL I Application led July 1, 1910. Serial No. 569,843.

To all whom t may conce-rn.'

Be it known that I, HAROLD RowN'rRnE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Door-Operating Mechanism, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to door operating mechanism, and particularly to foldingdoors, or doors composed of foldable panels, and means foroperating the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction of foldable door and means for operating the same, which is simple and efficient in operation. j

A further object is to provide a construction of door and operating means therefor wherein the door is made in hinged or pivoted panels which are foldable together in opening, and distended into line with each other in closing. l

A furtherobject is to provide a car with doors of foldable sections with means controllable from a convenient point within the car for operating the door. y

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangementof parts,\ all as will ybe more yfully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings,` andiiinlallly lpoint'ed outvin the appended claim. LMI,

In the accompanying drawings, Figur \l is a view in side elevation, of a foldable" door showing a formpf operating mechanism therefor, and embodying the principles of my invention, the upper part of the door sec-tions being broken off. Fig. 2, is a top planshowing the door panels occupying closed position andone form of connecting.

mechanism therefor for folding the panels upon each other in' opening. Fig. 3 is a view siriiila` to Fig. 2, showing the panels of one deor in folded position to open the doorway Fig. v4 is' av view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing another form of connecting mechanism for the door panels, and embraced within the scope of my invention. Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the conl struction shown in Fig. 4.- Fig. 6 is a view in section, taken transversely of a street or other car,` showing a form and arrangement of manual operating means adapted for use in connection withmy invention.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever it ocurs throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I ,employ a door composed of panels or sections suit- Speccation of Letters Patent. Pa-tnted Fel), 22, 1916. i

ably hinged or otherwise connected together for relative swinging or other` movement., whereby, in opening the door pane/lssY foliil upon each other and in closing they aredis-\\ tended into Ialined relation, I Vprovide suitable connecting mechanism intermediate the door panels or sections, whereby the en,n forced movement of one section-which may be called the `primary or master section for description purposes, will cause the propei` movements of the other sections or panels into their opened or closed position as the case may be. The enforced movement of the primary or master section or panel of the door may be accomplished manually or by power mechanism as may be desired, and

may be controlled from any suitable or desired point within the contemplation of my invention.

In the practical application of my invention,vand particularly where the apparatus is employed on a street railway, elevator, or other car, `I prefer to so arrange the door panels or sections, and their connecting and operating mechanism that, in opening, the central panel or panels, that is, the ones occupying the central portion of the doorway when closed, lwill move outwardly thereby permitting occupants of the car to stand or remain in close proximity to the door without interfering with the proper operation thereof.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown various constructions, forms and arrangements embodying the principles of my invention, which I will now proceed to describe more in detail.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 'I have doorway. the two cooperating together to open and close the doorwaywhen properly operated. -ly invention. however, as delimY nl in the claim. is not to be limited or restricted to a double folding door construction. ln these views of the drawings reference signs l. l. designate what 'tor descriptive purposes. l. shall refer to as the primary or nuisier sections or panels of the two halves respectively ot the double door.

Vr.l`hese panels or sections are respectively sejournaled. whereby. by rocking the shaft (5,Y

a coincident rocking movement of shafts 2 in unison with each other is secured. A single bevel gear arrangementfet, 5, is shown for connecting the shafts 2 and 6.

I will now describe one form of means for connecting the panels or sections of the door so as to secure a coincident operation thereof in unison when the primary or master panels are moved. Mounted concentrically with the shafts but secured rigidly against rotative movement therewith, is a gear wheel 1T, see Figs. Q and 3. A. gear wheel 18. preferably of one half the diameter-of gear wheel 17. is secured rigidly to the hinged edge of door panel 3, being arranged in axial line with the hinge of said panel, as indicated at and preferably secured to the hinge axis or pin thereof. An intermediate gear 19 mounted on a bearing pm.

on the upper end surface of the panel 1, in termeshes with the gears 17, 1S. From this arrangement of gearing connections it will be readily seen that when either of the shafts Q is given an axial rotative movement through an arc, of ninety degrees, that is, is

given a one quarter revolution, the primary door panel 1, associated therewith is brought into the position shown in Fig. 3, while, at the same time, the door panel 3, is, through the connecting gearing above described, folded `upon the section or panel l, as shown in Fig. 3. the hinged edge thereof moving in one direction through an arc of ninety degrees and the outer or free edge of such panel moving in the opposite direction through a similar aro, thereby securing an opening of the door way by reason of the door sections or panels folding upon each other by a combined swinging and sliding movement against the .sides of the doorway. Where a double door is employed itis. evident that each half will be similarly operated and in unison. the sections of one half foldiim` bv a combined slidino` and swinging f 'C3 C) amovement upon each other and upon one side or liamb of the doorway and the sec tions of the other half similarly folding upon each other and upon the other side ai 1iamb of the doorway. i

llt is obvious that many other forms of connections between the door panels may be employed. and each door may be composed of more than two panels. will'iout .leparture from the spirit and scope of my invention.

'ln Figs. -t and 5, l have shown a door composed of three panels or sections. 51, 5l., 55 though in thisl respect 'l do notdesirc to be limited or restricted, and instead of intermeshing gears l employ sprocket chains operating around gear wheels. Thus one gear wheel 50. is stationarv and has the same arrangement and relation with respect to the shaft 2 and the primary door panel or section 51, as the gear wheel 17, above described. The pivot pin 52, of the panel 5st, carries pivotally mounted thereon two gears 52". .3(3. one of which is secured to pane'l 54, the other, which is secured to panel 51. The pivot pin of panel 55, carries one gear 58, which is secured to panel The gan-s 56, and 58, are of 'the same dia-meter, and the gear 50 is twice the diameter of gear A sprocket chain 59, operates over the gears 50 and 53, while a sprocket chain GO, operatesA over gears 5G and 58.

In this manner it will be obvious that as many door panels or sections as desired may be employed, and that when the shaft is rocked, as above ex,- plained, the several sections or panels of the door will fold upon each other and upon the side of the doorway, in opening, or will be distended into alinement with each other in closing.

The. construction of folding doors as heretofore employed have 'been open to the objections that when moved to complete open position, that is, when the panels are in parallel position, it requires a complicated arrangement of lever mechanism to operate them and the door is caused to open inwardly. This is objectionable in the case of street or other cars for the reason that with the door opening in this manner passengers or occupants of the car, if standing close to the door are liable to interfere with the operation of the door or else to be injured. ln an arrangement embodying my invention. however, I am enabled not only to avoid the necessity for the use of complicated lever connections, but. also to cause the central door panels to move outwardly in opening, `thereby enabling occupants or passengers of the car to stand in close proximity to the doorway without interfering with the proper operation of the door.

4the same with .the door operating mechanism' so that when the Idoory panels are folded upon-each other or moved into open position the step will move automatically and coincidently into position for use, and

' when the door sections or panels'are disways. In Figsl and'` y'6,{Iil-iave shown av tended into closed position the step will be automatically and coincidently moved into retracted position. This coincident and cooperative movement ofthe door and step may be vaccomplished inra' wide` variety of simple and efficintarrangement for accomplishing V the desired object where I connect a step 7, through brackets 8, or other-J wise, rigidly to the shaft 6, whereby when said shaft is rocked to operate the door sections oi' panels, the step is coincideiitly operate'd.. A limit stop 22 connected to the bracket which carries the stepland arranged to bring up against the shaft 2, or other convenient partihay serve to give a rigid supportfor 'the'step when in position for use. f

As above.indicated thedoors, or the door" and step, where astep is employed, may be operated in lany convenient manner,

manually, or by power mechanism, or otherwise, as may be desired, and from any suitable-or convenient point. In Fig. 1, I have shown one form of power mechanism for this purpose, and comprising a power cyl@ inder4 61, controlled by a Avalve mechanism.

arranged in, casing l16, and operated in any suitable manner, as for instance by acontrol handle`62, and intermediatelink con-4 nections 63, 64E-and 15. A rocking gear 65, operated by the inotor 61, has an arm 13, connected by .a link12 to one arm of a bell crank lever .11, the other arm of said bell crank lever being connected by rod 10,- with a crank arm 9 on the rock shaft 6. The power mechanism above described may be of any desired construction and arrangement and capable of securing a cushioning effect, as more fully shown, described and claimed in my Patent No. 870,051, granted Nov. 5, 1907, and pending application Serial No. 393,911, filed Sept. 21, 1907, and in the pending application of Paris R. Forman, r,Serial N o.`393,908,iled Sept. 21, 1907. In Fig-6I haveA shown a construction of manually voperated mechanism which is well adapted for use in connection with my invention, and embraced withinthe scope thereof, Vand wherein a hand lever 23, is

,collects the fares of the passengers or at .rod 28, the other end of said rod being con- .arily mounted on the lintel or framework actuating another gear wheel 27, having eccentricallvconnected thereto one end of a nected to the crank arm 9 on shaft 6. The shaft 24, may be prevented from rotating too far in any suitable Aor convenient manner, as, for instance, by means of stops 29, carried by gear 26, and adapted to strike against the bracket 30, in which shaft 24, is journaled, or against any other suitable or convenient point.

It may be desirable to prevent the doors oi* door panels from being forcibly moved out of their completely, closed position by pressure applied thereto, as, for `instance by passengers in a car pressing there. against. This may be .accomplished in many -specilically different ways. I have shown a simple and efficient construction for the purpose, wherein I provide `the door panels 3, at a convenient point on their outer or free edges for instance, on the upper end surfaces of the panels near their outer vertical edges, With lugs or shoes 20,

adapted, when the door panels or sections are in their completelyclosed position to enter between lthel guide plates 21 station- 100,

above the doorway. It is obvious that many -other specific structures might well subserve" Atheir completely closed position. This may be accomplished in many speciically diderent ways. For instance, in the case-of the use of power mechanism for operating the `apparatus the lever connections intermediate the motor and the shaft, may be arranged kat some convenient point to pass a dead center as the door panels attain completely closed position. In the form shown the link or rod 12 may be employed and arranged in this manner to accomplish the desired result. Similarly the doors may be locked in their completely opened position., In the case of themanuallyoperated devices shown inFig. 6, the s'ame results maybe attained by so proportioning'the gears A26', 125 27, that-the latter will rotate slightly beyond `-ay half revolution While the door moves from one limit of its movement thereby causing the rod 2 8 to assume deadcenter positions and hence locking the doors opened or closed as the case may be While the handle 23 and gear 26 can be given any desired relative degree of movement;

The principles of my invention. may be embodied in many other different constructions and arrangements and still fall Within the scope of my invention. While, therefore, I have shown and described various specific constructions Aand embodiments in the broadest scope of my invention as defined in the claim I do not desire to be' while a construction embodying the prin-v ciples of my invention is adapted for use generally, it is particularly desirable in connection with the doors of street or other cars especially for the doors in the, sides of the car since I avoid the necessity for providing pockets in the sides of the car to receive the doors When open and since the doors are not required to slide in a right line they may be applied to the rounding or slightly tapering contour of the ca r platforms at the ends of the cars, and hence may be applied to cars already built, and not requiring a special construction of car body.

I dol not claim herein the combination which includes the step as the same forms the subject matter of my application Serial No. 476,031, filed Februar'y 4, 1909.

outer edge of the primary panel is connected. the outer edge of the secondary panel being hinged to the inner edge of the primary panel, connections intermediate the adjacent edges of said panels, V'whereby when one is rocked the other is coincidently rocked in the opposite direction., and means for rocking said shaft, the construction including automatic means for locking said panels at the limits of their movements, and means arranged to engage the inner edge of the secondary panel when the panels are extended into line with each other to prevent movement, thereof independently ofthe vertical shaftrocking means.

In testimony Wherof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, on this 9th day of lune A. D., 1910. f

HAROLD ROlVNTI-EE.

Vitnesses:

EDMoND R. Doesn, MAE WV. CLINTON.

-4 me, la.; 

